"It seems this month has entered the snow season again. The Goddesses of the Northern sky also seem to be joyful as usual... May the children laugh and the adults find their happiness beneath the early-falling snow."
Beneath the soft sunlight piercing the clouds in the morning, a silver-haired woman with bluish eyes stood by the window frame. She raised her right hand high toward the sky, while her left hand rested before her chest as she offered praise.
The warm, melodious voice that came from her mouth caught the attention of the morning canaries flying across the town. They then perched around the window where the woman was offering her praises, and began to sing along with her.
The woman then smiled warmly. She turned her gaze to the canaries around her window. With slow movement, she took one of the canaries in both hands... then brought it up to her face and looked at it.
"Thank you for accompanying my sincere praises to the gods. Your songs, so beautiful, will surely make the gods in the heavens glad and content with their creation," she praised, in a voice so soft.
The canary that heard the woman speak to it flapped its wings repeatedly with happiness and then hopped closer. "Chip! Chip!" it chirped.
The woman nodded as she closed her eyes for a brief moment, then opened them again before saying, "Yes, of course they will be pleased. Sincere praise from me and from you will surely be heard up to the seventh heaven where the gods reside."
Hearing the woman's answer, the canaries perched around the window and the one in her hand looked very pleased. They began to hop here and there on their tiny feet, as if dancing like humans.
The woman then chuckled at the reaction of the canaries. She felt very glad to see the animals' morning joy, then placed the canary in her hand back onto the window frame and turned to walk toward a table.
The metal-tipped heels she wore made a "Tap! Tap! Tap!" sound as she walked toward the table before her. The canaries still rejoicing in and around the window saw the woman take a small sack of canary seeds from the table.
She then brought the sack of seeds before the canaries on the frame and around the window, slowly untied the string at the sack's end and poured them around the window area, so the canaries could enjoy a small gift from her.
"Enjoy, everyone. Your happiness is a part of something I still keep, but after this spread that happiness to the people of this town so that they may feel joy at the start of the season," she said.
The canaries that saw the fresh seeds scattered before them eagerly snatched and ate the seeds without hesitation.
"I'll take that as a yes," the woman said. She then turned her gaze toward the wardrobe on the right; the wardrobe was open and contained a white cloak hanging inside.
A cross-shaped locket and a brooch shaped like a snowdrop flower were neatly placed and attached to the lower part of the white cloak's collar. The woman then slowly took the cloak and put it on before fastening all its buttons.
She then turned to look at the canaries that had finished eating. They exchanged glances for a split second before the woman said, "Go, spread the happiness as I requested," as she raised her right hand and made a sweeping motion.
The canaries, filled with joy, happily flew back into the sky, carrying the mission to spread happiness at the start of the season to the town's residents.
While the woman watched the canaries fly into the sky bearing their messages, she turned toward the door behind her and walked to it while putting on her hood.
She opened the door slowly, then closed it and walked to the reception with keys in her hand. Before a large old man, the woman handed over her key with a warm smile.
"Thank you for the room, sir. It was very comfortable," she said.
The old man who saw the short woman only laughed. He took the key and put it back on the hook behind him.
"You're welcome, little lady. Will you be continuing your journey after this?" the old man asked, looking at her.
"Yes, my journey is still long to be done," she replied.
The old man looked at the girl with an expression that softened. He sighed rather heavily and then said, "Haaah~ in that case be careful, little lady. In this snowy season, monsters are usually quite active and aggresice around the forests. I suggest you go to the adventurers' guild first to look for supplies and perhaps a weapon... because you cannot keep relying on luck while wandering."
"Thank you for the advice, sir, but I already have weapons. I may go to the guild only to seek information and some supplies... But thank you for your concern," the woman said.
"Weapons?" The man looked at the short woman before him with a puzzled expression. He thought it unlikely that beneath the small cloak the woman wore there would be weapons... or maybe there were? "Haaah~ very well then, little lady, be careful on your journey."
"Absolutely sir, thank you again and goodbye. May the Winter Gods bless you with their grace," she said, bowing slightly before turning and walking away.
The old man watched the short woman walk away, beginning to shake his head. From the moment she arrived he had felt something odd. From her name that sounded so familiar, her warm smile, the way she spoke and behaved, her very polite clothing, to the reason she travelled—everything felt strange.
"Hmm~ penatence, is it? Isn't it usually monks and nuns who do that? Why is that little lady doing it too? ... Could that girl be one of them? Ah~ but probably not, because even her name sounds aristocratic... Anastasia Germaine Lawrence. A somewhat familiar name, but where have I heard it?" he wondered.
-
Under the snow beginning to fall from the sky, the woman named Anastasia walked among the people moving about. She glanced right and left, watching people going about their activities and children running here and there.
Their smiles warmed Anastasia's heart, but deep within her heart and mind... something continued to haunt her. Guilt, emptiness, and gloom kept trying to erode the remnants of her humanity.
Among the people walking in the town, Anastasia heard someone speak to her and now stand behind her.
"No matter how far you run, those sins will never be repaid... Anastasia. You saw us dying with your own eyes and you did nothing to save us. You are a disgrace, a burden, and a parasite that should not be with US... You... Are... The... One... Who deserves to be cursed and die... Anastasia!" he said.
Anastasia only stood with clenched hands, then walked away from that figure. She went to the adventurers' guild with a heart and mind tossed about, yet she displayed the warmest and most sincere smile when entering the adventurers' guild.
The receptionist who saw Anastasia immediately greeted her gently. "Welcome to the guild, White Compas. Is there anything I can help you with, adventurer?"
Anastasia smiled, then bowed humbly before standing upright and saying, "Yes, I am looking for a map of the area around this town... and also looking for missions with minimum pay." Her eyes sparkled with the locket shining from the sunlight.